July 2013

(UPDATED) Church votes to allow women bishops, one year ahead of predicted approval.

Melissa Steffan

[ posted 7/14/2014 12:59PM ]

ANDY RAIN/EPA

Update (July 14, 2014): The Church of England will allow women to become bishops for the first time after a vote passed the General Synod by 81 percent, more than the required two-thirds majority. The House of Laity, which rejected the legislation in 2012, voted 152–45 ...

(UPDATED) Bible Society director: 'Most Egyptians expected the violence. Nevertheless, it is heartbreaking to watch on TV this bloodshed between fellow Egyptians unfolding before our eyes.'

Timothy C. Morgan

[ posted 8/15/2013 09:10AM ]

Courtesy of Morning Star News / Watani

Update (Aug. 19): As the death toll in Egypt approaches 1,000, a senior advisor to the nation's top Islamic leader, the Grand Mufti, explains the 'most reliable narrative' of events and decries violence on both sides.

VBS began in a beer hall more than 100 years ago. Here’s what it looks like today.

Abby Stocker

[ posted 7/31/2013 07:31AM ]

U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys / Flickr

If you attend a church that has more than 250 Sunday worshipers, or an annual budget of $500,000 (or more), or a pastor between 30 and 48 years of age, odds are good that your congregation offers Vacation Bible School (VBS) during the summer months.

Update (July 31): Christian leaders in Kano are claiming three churches were targeted by the bombs during evening worship services, reports Morning Star News. They estimate the death toll at 45 people, largely from one Pentecostal church and nearby Christian businesses.

Theft of Colorado display on childhood poverty sparks debate over public religious symbols.

Abby Stocker

[ posted 7/24/2013 12:51PM ]

A display of 4,500 paint-stick crosses planted by a Colorado church on a publicly-owned ski slope spurred some viewers to action. But, to the church's surprise one morning, rather than inspiring support for combating child poverty (as intended), the crosses were stolen—apparently ...

(UPDATE) A new, no-confidence vote in Madhya Pradesh's Hindu government has delayed ratification of the state's anti-conversion bill.

Morning Star News

[ posted 7/24/2013 11:17AM ]

Update (Aug. 5): World Watch Monitor (WWM) reports that Christians in Madhya Pradesh still are waiting to hear whether or not the government will accept their amendments to the state's new 'anti-conversion law', the signing of which has been placed on hold.